Honda, Mitsubishi, Tokuyama Studying Fuel Cell Recycling

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda, Mitsubishi, Tokuyama Studying Fuel Cell Recycling

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Honda Motor, Tokuyama Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp. will run a joint demonstration to operate a data center using by-product hydrogen and a stationary fuel cell (FC) power station. It will reuse FC systems from fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Project Members will explore the potential of reusing automotive FC systems in a stationary application. The objective of the Demonstration Project is to reduce the economic liability on customers installing and operating stationary FC systems, which will contribute to the decarbonization of electric power. (AutoInformed: Toyota Developing Hydrogen Engine with Motorsports)

This awakened Demonstration Project was proposed to and adopted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)* as one of the projects for the “Development of Technologies for Realizing a Hydrogen Society / Development of Technologies for Regional Hydrogen Utilization.” In short, Japanese industries are increasingly embracing the switch to a carbon fuel free society.

This Demonstration Project will be conducted in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan using by-product hydrogen produced by Tokuyama’s salt water electrolysis business to supply electricity to a distributed data center operated by Mitsubishi from a stationary fuel cell power station that Honda will develop based on the assumption of reusing fuel cells from FCEVs.

The impetus here is the virtual certainty of a further increase in power demand for data centers that is projected over time due to the advancement of technologies that require large-volume data processing, such as generative AI and automated driving. In the face of this market environment, by utilizing by-product hydrogen and FCs to power distributed data centers, the Project Members aim to assist the decarbonization of data centers and the digital transformation of municipalities and local businesses.

“Based on the knowledge gained from this Demonstration Project, the Project Members will look into the feasibility of the installation and expansion of data centers using clean power in the region, as well as explore further business opportunities both inside and outside Japan,” the companies said in a joint release today.

*New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization is Governed by MITI,  the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

NEDO, originally established on 1 October 1980 was reorganized as an incorporated administrative agency on 1 October 2003 as a Japanese national research and development agency. It has a budget of~¥156.8 billion and employs ~1400 people. The goal of NEDO is to enhance industrial technology and promote commercialization by comprehensively performing functions such as:

  • Promoting research and development (R&D) carried out using skills from the private sector.
  • Promoting R&D carried out by the private sector with regard to technology for non-fossil energies, combustible natural gas, and coal.
  • Promoting the technology required for the rational use of energy and technology in mining and industry.
  • Promoting the use of such technology in cooperation with the international community – to thereby contribute to ensuring a stable and efficient energy supply in accordance with the changes in the domestic and foreign economic and social environments and to the development of the economy and industry.

In addition to the above, the following programs will be funded and conducted as publicly solicited research and development projects.

  • Moonshot Research and Development Program – ¥25.2 billion.
  • Research and Development Project for Enhancement of the Bases for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems – ¥310.0 billion.
  • Green Innovation Funding Program-¥2 trillion.
  • Program for Developing Important Economic Security Technologies : 1¥25 billion.
  • Specified Semiconductor Funding Program – ¥617 billion.
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